Jury selection begins today in Sharon Osbourne trial

Jury selection in the trial of dueling litigation between Sharon Osbourne and a former contestant on "Rock of Love Charm School" over battery claims will begin today, but a judge today urged both sides to try and settle the case.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Abraham A. Khan said he was willing to meet with Osbourne, plaintiff Megan Hauserman and their attorneys tomorrow to try and resolve the case before a jury panel is called to his courtroom at mid- morning.

However, Osbourne's attorney, Howard L. Weitzman, said the two sides are "six figures away" in their estimates of Hauserman's damages.

Hauserman's lawyer, Roderick L. Lindblom, said the evidence of the harm to his client will be demonstrated by showing the jury the video from the show.

Lindblom said he was dropping Hauserman's claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress, leaving battery and negligent infliction of emotional distress as the only causes of action in her case to be tried. He also said Osbourne, 58, will be the first witness he calls to testify.

Weitzman said after today's motions hearing that the paring of Hauserman's case to two causes of action will make a difference.

The lawyer said finding an impartial jury could take more than a day because of the celebrity status of Osbourne, her musician husband, 62-year-old Ozzy Osbourne, and the couple's children, who appeared with their parents on a reality television series.

Both Lindblom and Weitzman said they both oppose a media request to allow video of the trial. Khan has not yet ruled on the petition.

Hauserman began the legal fight when she lodged her complaint against Osbourne in March 2009. The lawsuit stems from a confrontation in December 2008 between the two women, which was billed online as "Sharon and Megan's big fight."

Hauserman alleges Osbourne hit her, pulled her hair and scratched her after the two exchanged insults. However, according to Osbourne's countersuit, Hauserman assumed the risk of injury while taking part in "Charm School" and breached her part of the agreement by suing.

A physical confrontation between the women lasted about a minute, with Hauserman and another contestant who joined the fracas all being pulled apart, according to Osbourne's court papers.

Hauserman was "visibly drunk" and argued with a contestant named Rodeo before the confrontation with Osbourne, according to the countersuit.

After one exchange between Rodeo and Hauserman, Osbourne told the plaintiff that she "was not fit to be a parent," according to Osbourne's court papers.

"(Hauserman) responded by saying that the only thing Mrs. Osbourne had managed as a celebrity was to watch her husband's brain turn into a vegetable," the countersuit states. "Mrs. Osbourne reacted to this insult by calmly picking up a glass and dumping its contents on (Hauserman)."

During the altercation, Hauserman "deeply scratched and bruised Mrs. Osbourne and ripped her clothing, including a vintage Valentino leather jacket," according to the countersuit.

Hauserman had less than $1,000 in medical injuries that consisted largely of a sore thumb and "hair pain," according to Osbourne's court papers.

Osbourne, a judge on the NBC talent show "America's Got Talent" and a panelist on the CBS talk show "The Talk," believes Hauserman started the incident for publicity, according to the countersuit.